Method for simulated ornamentation



y 1962 c. L. LEBLANC ETAL 3,041,764

METHOD FOR SIMULATED ORNAMENTATION Filed Feb. 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 MK Ty I INVENTOR. Conrad Le Blonc and James E.Crone BY ATTORNEY.

July 3, 1962 c. 1.. LEBLANC ETAL 3,041,764

METHOD FOR SIMULATED ORNAMENTATION Filed Feb. 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NJ ZLWW/A Vlgb II A TORNEY.

July 3, 1962 c. L. LEBLANC ETAL 3,041,764

METHOD FOR SIMULATED ORNAMENTATION Filed Feb. 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 44 [FIG INVENTOR. Conrad LeBlunc and James E. Crone United States Patent Ofiice Patented July 3, 1962 3,041,764 METHGD FUR SIMULATED ORNAMENTATION Qonrad ill. Leblanc and .i'arnes E. Crane, Lcorninster, Mass, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Foster Grant Co., Inc, Leorninster, Miass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 15, E57, Ser. No. 640,474 Ill Claims. (Ci. 41-40) This invention relates to a novel method and machine for forming three-dimensional ornamentation on objects having a heat-softenable surface. In particular it relates to a method and machine for providing simulated beads, precious stones and the like on the surfaces of plastic articles.

Attempts have been made in the past to ornament inexpensive personal articles, such as sunglasses and cornpacts, with simulated precious stones and beads. Prior to this invention such ornamentation was accomplished by physical attachment of each element, usually by mechanical means. Thus, synthetic precious stones and beads were shaped into tiny discrete units and then individually attached to the article of manufacture. However, such methods of ornamentation are time-consuming, difiicult and costly.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel method and machine for ornamenting heat-softenable articles so as to simulate the attachment of precious stones and beads.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a method and machine which is rapid, inexpensive, uses little material and lends itself to semi-automatic or automatic production.

Further objects of this invention will hereinafter appear from the following description.

The invention comprises a method and machine whereby a plurality of shaped bottomless pieces of thin metal foil are embedded in a heat-softenable surface in such a manner as to retain their shapes. Both raised and depressed forms can be used. The raised forms are attached so that substantially only their margins are embedded, resulting in the simulation of beads or precious stones, depending on the reflectance of the foil used. The depressed forms are fitted into registering depressions with their margins upward, especially useful in simulating precious stones where highly reflective, many surfaced shapes are used.

In its preferred form the invention involves the use of heated punches whose terminal margin is a cutting edge and whose terminal surface within the margin forms a mold'for the desired bottomless foil shape, being either depressed or protruding with relation to the cutting margin as may be desired. The action of such a heated punch upon a flat strip of metal foil is to cut out and shape a foil piece on the terminal surface and then to transport the shaped foil to the heat-softening surface. With a terminal surface depressed with relation to the punch cutting margin, the foil shape is a raised form with relation to the object, and the punch is arranged so as to em bed only the foil margin in the surface softened by the heat of the punch. With a depressed foil shape (protruding terminal surface on punch) the punch is arranged so as to form a registering depression on which the foil shape is deposited, with margins upward and embedded.

Where, as in this preferred method, heated marginal cutting punches with shaped terminal surfaces are used with blank foil, it is necessary to provide for proper positioning of the foil during the various steps of the process. Failure to do so results in the foil tearing or sticking to the punches, imperfect shaping of the foil, and incomplete positioning and embedding of the shaped foil pieces. Proper positioning requires the foil blank to be held against the object surface while the punches cut through and the blank remainder to be cleanly removed from contact with both object and punches. Such proper positioning is preferably obtained by use of a movable perforate plate arranged so that at the proper time it presses the foil blank firmly against the object and allows the punches to pass through its perforations. When the punches are retracted the plate is arranged to retract so that the foil remainder is cleanly removed from both the object and the punches.

A fuller understanding of the invention may be ob tained from the following description of a specific embodiment illustrative of the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of machine;

FIGURE '2 is a somewhat enlarged cross section of FIGURE 1 taken on line 2- 2;

FIGURE 3 is a greater enlargement of a. portion of FIGURE 2, and also including the foil;

FIGURE 1A is an enlargement of the sliding arrangement between plate and holder;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of a portion of a plastic spectacle frame showing protruding discrete circular headlike ornaments;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of FIGURE 4 taken on line 55;

FIGURE 6 is a greatly enlarged portion of FIGURE 5 showing a single embedded, outwardly extending ornamental foil resembling a bead;

FIGURE 7 is a front view or" a portion of a plastic spectacle frame showing indented diamond shape ornamentation;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of FIGURE 7 taken on line 8-8;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross section of the cutting edge and terminal surface of a convex punch after impressing a concave diamond shaped ornamentation as shown in FIGURE 7, both the perforated plate and foil blank bein omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 10 is a front view of a portion of a plastic spectacle frame showing indented hexagonal shaped ornamentation with extending facets;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of FIGURE 10 taken on line 11-41;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged cross section of the cutting edge andterminal surface of a concave punch after impressing a convex hexagonal shaped ornamentation with extending facets as shown in FIGURE 10, both the perforated plate and foil blank being omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 13 is a bottom view of a punch used in FIG- URE 12 showing cutting edge and terminal surface.

The machine consists of a power press having a vertically movable horizontal ram provided with a ram shaft with vertical guide bars and a horizontal press bed. Inserted between the ram and the bed and attached to the ram is an assembly consisting of an insulating member, a press head with heating elements and a punch holder with a plurality of punches arranged in a predetermined configuration. Attached to the press bed is a nest block for holding the object to be ornamented. Between this assembly and the object is positioned a band of thin metal foil adapted to be advanced with each stroke of the press and a suspended positioning plate, the intermittent vertical movement of which is actuated by the movement of the head and the action of associated springs.

Thus, as the punches approach close to the nest, the positioning plate is applying only its own Weight to the foil, such weight being sufiicient to hold the foil properly against the object but not so great as to cause distortion or embedding in the object. When the punches rise, the plate remains in the same position until the punches clear the plate. Then as the punches rise further, the plate rises fricticnally carrying the blank foil remainder, but is spaced away from the punches.

Referring to the drawings the device therein shown comprises a power press having a movable horizontal ram 13 provided with a ram shaft 11 and vertical guide bars 12. Below the ram is a stationary press bed 22. Attached to the ram 13 is an assembly consisting of an insulating asbestos strip 14-, a press head 16 with heating elements 16a and a punch holder 17 fitted with punches 18 each of which has a peripheral cutting edge 18b and an inwardly disposed hemispherical terminal surface 153a. Attached to press bed 22 is nest block 25 held in place by bolts 25a, 25b, and cap 25c. The block 25 encloses a nest 21 to support the object 26 which is to be ornamented. Between the punches 18 and the object 26 there is suspended a floating positioning or control plate 19. This plate is multiperforated in predesigned configuration to allow the punches 18, set in punch holder 17 with identical registrable configuration, to pass through it. The plate 19 is in contact with a spring assembly cooperating with stop 20 attached to guide 12. The assembly 15 contains spring actuated rods 15g fitted with transverse pins 15c through slots 15d and coil springs 15a. Plate 19 is attached to punch holder =17 by studs 15c screwed into plate 19. The heads 15 of the studs 15:: move freely in bores in holder 17 to allow vertical motion. Between positioning plate 19 and the thermoplastic object to be ornamented 26 there is fed a blank of thin metal foil 23 which can be part of a continuous roll. Either hand or mechanical means are used to intermittently place and move the foil after each operation of the punch. The pin 15c and slot 15d and studs 15a allow the spring rod 15g to engage stop 20 only when the plate 19 is borne by the heads of studs 15e. The plate is so borne throughout the cycle except when the punches are protruding into or through the plate, in which case the plate is freely suspended and presses its own Weight upon the foil onto the object.

Each of the punches is provided with a cutting edge such as 18b and a terminal surface such as 18a which may be either concave, convex or a combination of both. The terminal surfaces may be of any shape or design with or without facets, in whole or in part. For example, thermoplastic object 26 has ornamentation 24 impressed by punch 18 with terminal surface 18a and cutting edge 18b; object 36 has ornamentation 34 impressed by punch 28 with terminal surface 28a and cutting edge 28b; and object 46 has ornamentation 44 impressed by punch 38 with terminal surface 33a and cutting edge 33b.

In operation, the object to be ornamented 26 is placed in the nest 21. The foil 23 is threaded from a delivery roll through the press, between the positioning plate 19 and the object to be ornamented 26, onto a receiving roll for the excess foil after stamping. The foil blank is shifted with each operation of the press by any conventional means. On the down stroke of the ram 13, with asbestos strip 14, press head 16, punch holder 17, and positioning plate 19 attached, the plate 19 presses its own weight upon foil 23 and holds it in position on the'object 26. The heated punches 18 arranged in predesigned configuration then pass through the registered apertures in plate '19, cut through the foil with cutting edges 18b, shape the cut out foil pieces onto the terminal surfaces of the punches and impress them on the thermoplastic object.

On the upstroke, the plate 19 lags behind the punches, thus holding the cut out foil in place and allowing the punches to withdraw cleanly from the foil blank. The plate then moves up, freeing the perforated blank which is moved out of position, and a new blank foil section introduced.

The metal foil usable in this invention should be sufficiently thin and flexible for smooth shaping. Aluminum, copper, and brass are particularly useful and aluminum foil of approximately 0.0030.094 inch thick is especially preferred. In place of metal foil other foils may be used, though less preferably. Thus, plastic foils, paper foils, metal-plastic laminate foils, metal-paper foils, and the like can be used in this invention but with some diificulty as compared with the metal foils. Further, although no adhesive is required, a thermoplastic adhesive or coating on the foil surface adjacent to the object may be used.

While the preferred embodiment of our invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the particular construction set forth, since various changes in the form, material, proportions, and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or destroy ing any of the advantages contained in the same, heretofore described and defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of ornamenting the surface of a thermoplastic object with simulated beads, precious stones and other ornaments, comprising forming three-dimensionally shaped bottomless pieces of metal foil three dimensional within the marginal edges, heating said surface, and embedding the margins of said pieces in said heated surface.

2. A method of ornamenting the surface of a thermoplastic object with simulated beads, precious stones and other ornaments, comprising providing thin metal foil, holding said foil against said surface under pressure, pressing heated small cut-outs of said foil into said surface, while so holding, at their terminal margins and forming three-dimensionally shaped terminal surfaces within said margins.

3. A method of ornamenting the surface of a thermoplastic object with simulated beads, precious stones and other ornaments, comprising exposing the surface to be ornamented, providing a blank of thin metal foiladjacent said surface, moving said blank under pressure into contact with said surface, pressing small heated cut-outs of said foil having terminal margins and three-dimensionally shaped terminal surfaces into said surface heated at point of contact. p

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal surfaces of said cut-outs are substantially convex, resulting in embedded depressed foil structures.

5. In a machine for ornamenting thermoplastic surfaced objects with simulated beads, precious stones and other ornaments, the combination with a power press of a ram assembly provided with heating means and a plurality of punches, guide bars cooperating with said assembly, a press bed having a nest for receiving the object to be ornamented, said ram assembly being movable along a plane transversely positioned with respect to said bed, a perforated control plate spaced between said nest and assembly, suspended by said assembly, and perpendicularly movable with respect to said assembly, and a foil blank coaxially positioned between said nest and plate; said punches having three-dimensionally terminal surfaces within terminal peripheral cutting edges and being registrable with the perforations in said plate.

6. In a machine for ornamenting a thermoplastic surfaced object with simulated beads, precious stones, and other ornaments, abed for holding object, a plurality of punches having three-dimensional terminal surfaces within terminal peripheral cutting edges and arranged in a predetermined configuration, a movable control plate perforated with apertures to register with said punches, a blank of thin metal foil positioned between said bed and plate, means for heating said punches, means for moving said plate and foil against said object, means for moving said heated punches through said plate and foil onto said object, means for withdrawing said punches back through said plate, and means for holding said plate from moving with said punches duringsuch withdrawal.

7. A thermoplastic object ornamented by simulated beads, precious stones and other ornaments, the ornaments consisting of bottomless three-dimensional metal foil pieces heat sealed and embedded in the surface of said object at least at its terminal margins.

8. An ornamented thermoplastic object as described in claim 7 wherein said foil pieces are fitted in depressions in the surface of said object.

9. A method of ornamenting the surface of a thermoplastic object with simulated beads, precious stones and other ornaments, comprising exposing the surface to be ornamented, providing a blank of thin foil adjacent said surface, moving said blank under pressure into contact with said surface, pressing heated cut-outs having terminal margins and three-dimensionally shaped terminal surfaces into said surface, heated at point of contact.

10. The method of precision forming and positive positioning of three-dimensional ornamentation on objects having a heat softenable surface which comprises positioning and firmly holding the object to be ornamented, feeding a band of thin metal foil adjacent said positioned object, pressing said foil firmly against the object to be ornamented, sharply cutting and shaping hot three-dimensionally shaped bottomless pieces of metal foil from the so-pressed band of foil, transporting while hot the shaped three-dimensional cut-out pieces of foil to the heat softenable surface of the object, heat softening the surface of the object at the exact point of contact between the cut-out pieces and the object, embedding the margins of the hot cut-out pieces of foil into the surface of the object heated at the point of contact, removing the pressure on the foil, and allowing the area of the object with the embedded hot cut-out pieces to cool and solidify.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,950,257 Mix Mar. 6, 1934 2,237,152 Larmour Apr. 1, 1941 2,257,015 Larmour Sept. 23, 1941 2,347,585 Wainman Apr. 25, 1944 2,364,226 Larmour Dec. 5, 1944 2,398,482 Wainman Apr. 16, 1946 2,629,196 Splaine Feb. 24, 1953 2,647,852 Franklin Aug. 4, 1953 2,716,268 Steigerwalt Aug. 30, 1955 2,724,200 Larmour Nov. 22, 1955 2,753,619 Franklin July 10, 1956 2,757,443 Steigerwalt Aug. 7, 1956 2,772,501 Malcolm Dec. 4, 1956 2,789,381 Belgard Apr. 23, 1957 2,890,541 Siegel June 16, 1959 

